Israel offers incoming travellers tracking bracelet instead of hotel quarantine

The pilot programme will mean authorities are alerted if someone removes the device or ventures too far from home

Israeli travellers show the electronic monitoring bracelets they received at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. AP 

Israelis returning home from abroad have a new option that will exempt them from being sent to a quarantine hotel: they can wear a bracelet monitor that will notify authorities should they breach a mandatory isolation period.

The pilot programme began on Monday with 100 tracking systems available at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

Traffic has dropped at the airport owing to restrictions to reduce the risk of Covid-19 variants entering the country.

Incoming passengers have been forced to stay at hotels, paid for by the government, for up to two weeks to ensure they are not infected before they can move around freely.

Should someone choose the new system, which includes an electronic bracelet, a smartphone and a wall-mounted tracker, they can self-isolate at home.

"We said we want it," said Alejandro Quil, 44. He wore the slim, lightweight and waterproof bracelet on his wrist.

"They gave us the service. It's great for us so we won't have to go to a hotel, so we will can do the quarantine at home as it should be."

The system alerts the authorities if someone removes the bracelet or ventures too far from the home monitor.

"There is potential for the pilot to quickly expand into a project consisting of thousands of units for more wide-scale use to assist in quarantine compliance in Israel," said SuperCom, the company behind the technology.